Firefighters facing blazes that have destroyed or damaged more than 160 homes on Florida's Atlantic coast are battling flames amid lush palms and shrubs that have been allowed to flourish as communities sprang up among them, experts said Tuesday.
Wildfires have scorched 3,800 acres, or 6 square miles, through the neighboring towns of Palm Bay and Malabar, built into dense woods along Interstate 95. Investigators are searching for one or more arsonists who apparently started the fires.
"This really won't be over until it rains. Until it rains, the threat is going to be ever-present," said State Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate. Forecasts show little chance of rain until at least the weekend.
Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday toured the area where he has declared a state of emergency. Federal officials have authorized funding to reimburse the state's firefighting costs in Brevard County.
clipped from: www.usatoday.com 